World Sleep Day, organized by the World Sleep Day Committee of the World Association of Sleep Medicine since 2008, is on March 21 every year. World Sleep Day is to celebrate the benefits of good and healthy sleep.

Sleep quality plays an important role in people’s health. Researchers say that there are a lot of advantages (优点) if we always get enough sleep. We can be smarter, thinner, healthier and more cheerful. Also we’re to have better skin, better memories and longer lives.

When you lose even one hour of sleep for any reason, it will influence (影响) your performance the next day.

In general, adults need to sleep at least eight hours of sleep a night, but a recent survey found that, on workdays, only 21% of them really get a full eight hours of sleep and another 21% get less than six. For teenagers, a healthy sleep is about eight to nine hours per night. However, about 80% of high school students don’t get enough sleep because of their schoolwork or some bad habits.

Twenty-seven percent of people in the world have sleep problems. Now there are over 80 kinds of sleep disorders (紊乱), and most people know little about their danger. So, for our good life and work, it’s necessary for us to realize the importance of sleep and try to have a good sleep.

Some festivals around the world

Dia de los Muertos (Mexico)

Beginning at the midnight of October 31 and lasting through November 2, it is a festival when families gather together to remember those loved ones who have died. To honor the deceased, Mexican families prepare private altars (祭坛) in their homes. On top of them they’ll put photos of the dead and their favorite food. They also visit the graves of their beloved ones and place offerings there to pay their respects to the dead.

Holi (India)

Holi, popularly known as “the festival of colors”, is an ancient Hindu festival which signifies the end of winter and the victory of good over evil.

During the festival, people wet each other with water balloons and water guns, then they throw color powder on one another. There are also marching bands, dancing, food and drink, and much laughter. A great number of people are infected by its playful and childlike atmosphere.

La Tomatina (Spain)

As a big food fight, it is possibly the most chaotic (混乱的) festival.

According to records, the festival dates back to a parade in which some naughty teenagers knocked one performer off his stilts (高跷) and caused a fight of throwing vegetables accidentally. It was once banned until 1957 when the locals held a protest (抗议) with a mock funeral. They carried a coffin containing a huge tomato as bands played a funeral march. Finally, in the decades since, La Tomatina has become a popular event which attracts lots of tourists to have fun.

If you happen to join the event, be aware that you squash (压软) the tomato before throwing it. Have a great time but avoid causing any injury.

Now, Earth Day is celebrated every year on April 22. A man, called Senator Gaylord Nelson Take, was determined to change the way we treated our planet. He didn’t stop his work until he had made a difference.

In 1963, Senator Gaylord Nelson wasn’t happy with the earth’s condition. He wanted to clean up the planet and solve pollution and environmental problems. As a senator, Gaylord Nelson was someone chosen by US citizens to help make laws, so he had a lot of power. He went to John F. Kennedy, the President at the time, with his concerns. The President agreed that the planet’s environment was a serious issue, so President Kennedy went around the country on a five­day tour to promote (宣传) the idea of cleaning up the planet. People began making small changes, but it wasn’t enough.

A few years later, Senator Nelson decided to put one day aside every year for the cause of saving the planet. On April 22,1970, the first Earth Day was celebrated; 20 million American demonstrators (示威者) took part in Earth Day activities. Since then, Earth Day has become an international holiday. People all over the world are doing something to make the earth a cleaner, better place. Today more than 500 million people in 164 countries participate (参与) in Earth Day festivities!

Then, what can you do to make a difference?

*Encourage your family to recycle on a regular basis. It is a good way to help the earth!

*Switch to energy­efficient light bulbs in your house to reduce the effects of global warming.

*Every glass bottle you recycle saves enough energy to run a TV for an hour and a half, while recycling an aluminum (铝) bottle can save enough energy to run your TV for three hours!

*Turn out the lights when you leave a room — unless someone’s still there!

*Use re­useable containers for your school lunches and snacks.